The Japan Times - Politics

Featured

Metsola Urges EU Investment to Secure Global AI Leadership

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has argued that Europe retains the potential to lead the global artificial intelligence sector, provided it addresses critical gaps in business financing and energy costs. Speaking at an informal European Council meeting in Dublin on Friday, she emphasized that the bloc must align its financial resources with its strategic ambitions for economic competitiveness.

SDF Intelligence Unit Avoided Classifying Civilian Data as Public Records

The Ground Self-Defense Force’s intelligence unit systematically avoided classifying collected civilian data as public records, according to former officers who stated the decision was made to evade potential public disclosure. Despite internal concerns and legal definitions, higher-ranking officials maintained that the reports on civilians’ ideological beliefs and personal details were treated as private memos rather than administrative documents.

Last news

US House votes to avert default, setting up Senate showdown

US lawmakers voted Wednesday to raise the national borrowing limit as a crucial first step to averting a catastrophic default, greenlighting a pact struck between Washington's warring parties after weeks of brinkmanship and fraught backroom deal-making.

NATO looks to bridge gaps on Ukraine membership bid

NATO foreign ministers meeting in Oslo Thursday will try to narrow divisions on Ukraine's push to join, upping spending and finding a new alliance chief, ahead of a July summit.

US lawmakers on track to head off default with debt bill

US lawmakers were set to vote Wednesday on an 11th-hour deal to raise the national borrowing limit and avert a potentially catastrophic credit default, struck between Washington's warring parties after weeks of nervy, high-stakes negotiations.

'Very worried': Russia evacuates children near Ukraine border after shelling

Russia said it was evacuating hundreds of children from villages due to intensifying shelling in the border region of Belgorod, where the situation was deemed "alarming" by the Kremlin.

Calls grow from Fed officials to 'skip' a rate hike

Two senior Federal Reserve officials indicated Wednesday that they may support skipping an interest-rate hike in June to give the Fed more time to assess the health of the US economy.

Washington sweats over high-stakes vote to stave off default

US politicians raced to secure backing for a cross-party deal to raise the national debt limit and avert a first-ever default as they faced a growing backlash from conservatives ahead of a crucial Wednesday evening vote.

UN special envoy for Myanmar to step down: UN chief spokesman

The United Nations special envoy for Myanmar will step down in June, a spokesman for the UN chief told AFP Wednesday, after an 18-month tenure in which she was criticised by the junta and its opponents.

New York sinking under its own weight: study

If New York is the city that never sleeps then how's this for keeping you up at night? It is also sinking.

Germany orders four Russian consulates closed

Germany said Wednesday that it would drastically reduce Moscow's diplomatic presence on its soil in response to a similar move from Russia, the latest escalation of tensions sparked by the war in Ukraine.

Canada to require warning labels on individual cigarettes

Canada will soon require that health warnings be printed on individual cigarettes and cigars in a further crackdown on smoking, the country's addictions minister announced Wednesday.

Macron urges 'tangible' NATO security guarantees for Kyiv

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called on the West to offer Ukraine "tangible and credible" security guarantees as it battles Russia's invasion.

Petrol prices surge in Nigeria after subsidy move

The price of petrol in Nigeria tripled at government-run stations on Wednesday, two days after newly-elected President Bola Tinubu announced he would scrap fuel subsidies in his first move after taking office.

Markets tumble over US debt ceiling, China growth concerns

Stock markets slid Wednesday as a deal to raise the US debt ceiling faced backlash from hardline Republicans ahead of a crucial vote and data showed weakness in the Chinese economy.

Russia evacuates children from border villages amid 'alarming' situation

Russia said it was evacuating hundreds of children from villages due to intensifying shelling in the border region of Belgorod, where the situation was deemed "alarming" by the Kremlin.

Markets fall over US debt ceiling, China growth concerns

Stock markets slid Wednesday as a deal to raise the US debt ceiling faced backlash from hardline Republicans ahead of a crucial vote and data showed weakness in the Chinese economy.

Germany orders four Russian consulates on its soil closed

Germany said Wednesday it will drastically reduce Moscow's diplomatic presence on its soil in response to a similar move from Russia, in the latest escalation of tensions over the war in Ukraine.

Rinkevics elected as Latvia first gay president

Latvia's foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics was elected as the Baltic country's new president on Wednesday, the first openly gay person to hold the office.

Russia evacuates children from border villages as situation 'alarming'

Russia said it would evacuate hundreds of children from villages due to intensifying shelling in the border region of Belgorod, where the situation was deemed "alarming" by the Kremlin.

Milosevic spymasters get longer jail terms in last UN court verdict

A UN court slapped two former Serbian spy chiefs with longer prison sentences Wednesday in the last major Hague war crimes trial from the 1990s Bosnian conflict.

Milosevic spymasters handed longer jail terms in final UN court verdict

A UN court sentenced two of late Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic's spy chiefs to 15 years in jail on appeal Wednesday in the last major Hague war crimes trial from the 1990s Bosnian conflict.

The Syrian refugee who became mayor of a German village

Ryyan Alshebl fled war-torn Syria in 2015, arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos after a harrowing four-hour journey on a rubber boat.

NATO-led peacekeepers step up security after Kosovo clashes

NATO-led peacekeepers stepped up security around a town hall in northern Kosovo on Wednesday, where hundreds of ethnic Serbs gathered again at the scene of clashes earlier this week that left more than 80 people injured.

Sudan army quits truce talks with paramilitary foes

The Sudanese army suspended its participation in US- and Saudi-brokered ceasefire talks Wednesday accusing its paramilitary foes of failing to honour their commitments.

Tensions high in north Kosovo as Serbs gather again

Tensions remained high in northern Kosovo on Wednesday, as hundreds of ethnic Serbs again gathered outside a town hall after clashing with NATO-led peacekeepers (KFOR) earlier this week.

'We want to be free': Filipinos demand right to divorce

Philippine mother-of-three Stella Sibonga is desperate to end a marriage she never wanted. But divorce in the Catholic-majority country is illegal, and a court annulment takes years.

North Korea spy satellite crashes into sea, Seoul salvages wreckage

North Korea attempted to launch a spy satellite Wednesday but it crashed into the sea after a rocket failure, with the South Korean military retrieving part of the likely wreckage in a potential intelligence bonanza.

Markets tumble as hardline Republicans threaten US debt deal

Asian markets sank Wednesday on worries that hardline Republicans could vote down a crucial bill to hike the US borrowing limit and risk a catastrophic default that could hammer an already fragile global economy.

What's in wine? Campaigners want ingredients on the bottle

European wines are finally being forced to reveal their ingredients to customers, but only on a website -- not on the bottle. Environmental campaigners are unimpressed.

North Korea spy satellite crashes into sea

North Korea attempted to launch a military spy satellite on Wednesday that would monitor the United States, but it crashed into the sea with Pyongyang conceding there had been "serious defects".

Iraq's Christians fight to save threatened ancient language

Iraq's shrunken and conflict-scarred Christian community is launching a new television channel as part of efforts to save their dying language, spoken for more than 2,000 years.

Canadian youths' mental health woes a 'ticking time bomb'

Canada is grappling with a ticking time bomb of violence, addiction and suicide linked to failing mental health services for its young people.

Brazil lawmakers vote to limit demarcation of Indigenous reserves

Brazil's lower house of Congress approved on Tuesday a bill that would limit expanded demarcations of Indigenous lands, which are considered key to protecting the Amazon and its native peoples.

‹
1
2
...
959
960
961
...
1359
1360
›

The Japan Times - Politics (English)